Ms Ice Sandwich by Mieko Kawakami
A quiet story of longing, loneliness, and looking closer
Affiliate Disclaimer - There are affiliate links on this page, which means I may receive payment at no charge to you for purchases made through any links on this page.
In Ms Ice Sandwich, Mieko Kawakami gives us something incredibly rare: a coming-of-age story that doesn’t shout. Told through the eyes of a boy who becomes quietly obsessed with the woman behind the sandwich counter at a local shop, this novella unfolds in short, sincere strokes. It’s about love, grief, and the things we don’t say, all packed into under 100 pages.
At first, Ms Ice Sandwich seems almost mythic: blue eyeshadow, silence, and mystery. But what makes this book linger is how it gently shifts focus, asking us to look again, not just at her, but at everyone we think we know.
Kawakami captures awkwardness, wonder, and emotional restraint in a way that feels both modern and timeless. It’s a story that doesn’t demand your attention, it simply earns it, line by line.
🍞 If you loved…
The quiet, observational tone of The Housekeeper and the Professor
The slow ache of She and Her Cat
Stories about people who feel unseen
📚 Read this if you’re in the mood for…
A short, beautiful book you can finish in a single afternoon
A story that honors small things and interior lives
A fresh Japanese perspective on youth and connection
✨ My Take
Ms Ice Sandwich reminded me that not all powerful stories are loud ones. This book feels like a moment you almost missed, until you look back and realize it changed something. I loved its restraint and its honesty.
Where to Read It:
Ms Ice Sandwich is available on Amazon — or read along with us in the My Asian Era book club on Fable.
